GAME DAY: Buffalo Sabres @ Ottawa Senators - 7:30pm ET - Wed. Dec. 16th, 2009 - Sens win 2-0!

The Ottawa Senators (16-12-4, 36 points, 3rd in the Northeast) return home to face the Buffalo Sabres (20-9-2, 42 points, 1st in the Northeast) on Wednesday night at Scotiabank Place. The Sens are coming off a bitter loss to the hated Leafs on Monday night that saw Spezza get injured in the final moments of the game. The Sens had a few missed opportunities to tie things up and had a goal called off in the last minute. Josh Hennessy has been called up in the wake of Spezza's injury. Look for Elliott to get the start again as he's not given us any real reason to to go to Brodeur yet, although that Blake goal was a stinker. Last time the Sabres were in town we saw Lalime in net... and it was a win for us. Perhaps we'll see Miller this time. Sabres have been having a great season so far and have won 4 in a row. The Sabres sit comfortably on top of the Northeast division. The impact of missing Spezza for any length of time has been hotly debated already. His lack of production this season combined with his defensive gaffs and lackluster play would suggest we may not even notice he's gone, some have even suggested we'll be a better team with him out of the line-up. Who knows. As with every injury, it's an opportunity for someone else to step up. This is a perfect chance for Winch to take the ball and run with it. Getting Leclaire, Neil and Donovan back during Spezza's absence will help a lot and hopefully that happens soon. I'm hopefully that when Spezza does return, he's 100% healthy and has a new attitude towards his commitment to the team and to the game. But, all that will remain to be seen. Until then, we tow the party line... GO SENS GO!!!

Game Coverage:
- TV: TSN2 (HD), MSG-B
- Radio: Team 1200
- Web: check http://www.atdhe.net and http://www.justin.tv

Latest Updates:
- Elliott starts in net tonight. Miller goes for the Sabres.
- Foligno has a lower body injury, won't go tonight, tests being done today.
- Campoli will paly forward in Foligno's place.
- Josh Hennessy has been recalled on an emergency basis to replace the injured (knee) Jason Spezza.

Team Lineups:
Ottawa Senators: http://www.dailyfaceoff.com/team-lineups/ottawa-senators-team-lineup
Buffalo Sabres: http://www.dailyfaceoff.com/team-lineups/buffalo-sabres-team-lineup

TSN's Ice Chips:

Source: http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/feature/?id=11009

Ottawa Senators:

RW Chris Neil, out since his left knee was injured in a game Nov. 26, has been skating on his own and there's a chance that he could be back in the lineup before Christmas, head coach Cory Clouston said. - Ottawa Citizen

GM Bryan Murray confirmed Monday that defenceman Erik Karlsson would be sticking with the Senators and would not be released to join Team Sweden at the World Junior Hockey championship. - TSN

Centre Jason Spezza suffered a knee injury in Monday's loss to the Leafs. The extent of the injury will be known after tests are done. - TSN

Forward Josh Hennessy was recalled on an emergency basis from the club's American Hockey League affiliate, the Binghamton Senators. - Team Release

Projected lines vs the Sabres (subject to change):

Forwards:
Michalek - Winchester - Alfredsson
Regin - Fisher - Kovalev
Ruutu - Kelly - Cheechoo
Campoli - Hennessey - Shannon

Defencemen:
Phillips - Volchenkov
Kuba - Karlsson
Picard - Carkner

Goaltenders:
Elliott
Brodeur

Healthy scratches:
- none

Injuries:
- Shean Donovan (knee, on IR, out indefinitely)
- Pascal Leclaire (broken jaw, expected to miss 4 weeks)
- Chris Neil (knee, out indefinitely)
- Jason Spezza (knee, out indefinitely)
- Nick Foligno (lower body, will miss tonight)

Buffalo Sabres:

Projected lines vs the Sens (subject to change):

Forwards:
MacArthur - Connolly - Pominville
Vanek - Roy - Stafford
Hecht - Kennedy - Paetsch
Mair - Ellis - Kaleta

Defencemen:
Tallinder - Myers
Sekera - Rivet
Lydman - Montador

Goaltenders:
Ryan Miller
Patrick Lalime

Healthy scratches:
- Mike Grier

Injuries:
- Paul Gaustad (knee, on IR)
- Chris Butler (ankle, on IR)
- Nathan Gerbe (groin, questionable for Wednesday's game vs Ottawa)

Game Day Previews:

OttawaSenators.com Game Day Preview:

Source: http://senators.nhl.com/club/preview.htm?id=2009020498

NHL.com Game Day Preview:

Source: http://www.nhl.com/ice/preview.htm?id=2009020498

Sportsnet.ca Game Day Preview:

Source: http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/scores/20091216/Buf@Ott/story

ESPN Game Day Preview:

Source: http://scores.espn.go.com/nhl/preview?gameId=291216014

ESPN Stats Comparison:



Media Links:
- Clouston post-practice presser from Tuesday: http://senators.nhl.com/v2/ext/Audio/091215_clouston.mp3
- Clouston post-game presser from Monday night: http://bit.ly/57askK
- Sens recall Josh Hennessy on emergency basis: http://bit.ly/6frO3V
- SensTV On-line: http://senators.nhl.tv/team/console.jsp
- Official Twitter of the Ottawa Senators: http://twitter.com/NHL_Sens

Spread the word!

Follow GMHockey on Twitter: http://twitter.com/gmhockey

GO SENS GO!!!

TSN2 eh? Harry Neale and that old fool whathisname? Should be fun.

shabbs wrote:
Projected lines vs the Sabres (subject to change):

Forwards:
Regin - Fisher - Kovalev
Michalek - Winchester - Alfredsson
Ruutu - Kelly - Cheechoo
Foligno - Hennessy - Shannon

why does Foligno get demoted to the fourth line? I'm pretty sure Regin and Foligno will switch spots.

I'd really like to see Michalek and Fisher form a permanent tandem now that the lumber king is down for the count.

Twitter it up!

http://twitter.com/GMHockey/status/6712712169

Gohan wrote:

shabbs wrote:
Projected lines vs the Sabres (subject to change):

Forwards:
Regin - Fisher - Kovalev
Michalek - Winchester - Alfredsson
Ruutu - Kelly - Cheechoo
Foligno - Hennessy - Shannon

why does Foligno get demoted to the fourth line? I'm pretty sure Regin and Foligno will switch spots.

I'd really like to see Michalek and Fisher form a permanent tandem now that the lumber king is down for the count.

Yeah, no idea how the lines will end up, we'll have a better idea after the morning skate tomorrow.

Should be a fun game to watch. I'm curious to see how the team responds to the loss of Spezza.

Just got offered free tix to go the game -- can't wait!

We always seem to rise to the challenge when we play Buffalo, unfortunately they won't be sending Lalime out there again

shabbs wrote:

Gohan wrote:

shabbs wrote:
Projected lines vs the Sabres (subject to change):

Forwards:
Regin - Fisher - Kovalev
Michalek - Winchester - Alfredsson
Ruutu - Kelly - Cheechoo
Foligno - Hennessy - Shannon

why does Foligno get demoted to the fourth line? I'm pretty sure Regin and Foligno will switch spots.

I'd really like to see Michalek and Fisher form a permanent tandem now that the lumber king is down for the count.

Yeah, no idea how the lines will end up, we'll have a better idea after the morning skate tomorrow.

Are those your lines or someone elses?

Gohan wrote:

shabbs wrote:

Gohan wrote:

shabbs wrote:
Projected lines vs the Sabres (subject to change):

Forwards:
Regin - Fisher - Kovalev
Michalek - Winchester - Alfredsson
Ruutu - Kelly - Cheechoo
Foligno - Hennessy - Shannon

why does Foligno get demoted to the fourth line? I'm pretty sure Regin and Foligno will switch spots.

I'd really like to see Michalek and Fisher form a permanent tandem now that the lumber king is down for the count.

Yeah, no idea how the lines will end up, we'll have a better idea after the morning skate tomorrow.

Are those your lines or someone elses?

I usually rip them from Ice Chips or DailyFaceOff or what NHL_Sens has posted...

shabbs wrote:

Gohan wrote:

shabbs wrote:

Gohan wrote:

shabbs wrote:
Projected lines vs the Sabres (subject to change):

Forwards:
Regin - Fisher - Kovalev
Michalek - Winchester - Alfredsson
Ruutu - Kelly - Cheechoo
Foligno - Hennessy - Shannon

why does Foligno get demoted to the fourth line? I'm pretty sure Regin and Foligno will switch spots.

I'd really like to see Michalek and Fisher form a permanent tandem now that the lumber king is down for the count.

Yeah, no idea how the lines will end up, we'll have a better idea after the morning skate tomorrow.

Are those your lines or someone elses?

I usually rip them from Ice Chips or DailyFaceOff or what NHL_Sens has posted...

Good because I expect better from you

Gohan wrote:

shabbs wrote:

Gohan wrote:

shabbs wrote:

Gohan wrote:

shabbs wrote:
Projected lines vs the Sabres (subject to change):

Forwards:
Regin - Fisher - Kovalev
Michalek - Winchester - Alfredsson
Ruutu - Kelly - Cheechoo
Foligno - Hennessy - Shannon

why does Foligno get demoted to the fourth line? I'm pretty sure Regin and Foligno will switch spots.

I'd really like to see Michalek and Fisher form a permanent tandem now that the lumber king is down for the count.

Yeah, no idea how the lines will end up, we'll have a better idea after the morning skate tomorrow.

Are those your lines or someone elses?

I usually rip them from Ice Chips or DailyFaceOff or what NHL_Sens has posted...

Good because I expect better from you

Yeah, that should have sent off some red flags... I'll fix it tomorrow...

Should be a solid game. 1 thing is for sure, there will be complete effort in every zone from every center man on that team with turn overs at a minimum. Really excitted to see this team without Spezza.

N4L wrote:Should be a solid game. 1 thing is for sure, there will be complete effort in every zone from every center man on that team with turn overs at a minimum. Really excitted to see this team without Spezza.

We'll see. Was Kelly giving complete effort in every zone last game? Or is it just that he sucks? This team will not be better with Hennessy replacing Spezza. They have a chance if some of the others start playing like they should: Kovalev, Cheechoo, Kelly, Regin (what's going on with him?) even Alfie.

Maybe this injury is the best thing that could happen to Spezza -- give him a chance to rest whatever is ailing him and refocus -- but it's not going to help the Sens in the short term.

Like I said, I fail to see how this team changes at all in terms of their PP (awful) PK (non factor) the system Clouston plays, their goaltending or team defense. The only thing that might change is team defense and that will be an improvement.

Spezza being out of the lineup doesnt hurt The Sens much, if at all.

If someone wants to tell me how the dynamic of this team changes, please, enlighten me.

Just watch Michalek and Alfresson get 3 points each.